MR ALLEN AT LAWRENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13393, 29 May 1914, Page 7

MR ALLEN AT LAWRENCE.

I^IWRENCE, this day. 'Ihe Hon. J. Allen addressed a meeting of his constituents here, last evening. He pointed out that the "surplus for tho year, amounting to £426,905, did not include cash derived from sales and from deferred payment sales. All the cash from sales of land had been credited to the Land for Settlements Act, tlie gain being over £135,000. The public would thus see how much stronger this account was than it had ever been before. There had been an all-round increase m pensions of £32.000. As for those people who cried out about the defence expenditure, lis was sure they would be pleased to know there had been a decrease m the expenditure of £16,693. The Government had clone several things to make the burden of living easier for those who found themselves m difficulties. For instance, a . provision had been made to give the Land Tax Commissioner power to grant a remission from the land tax to widows with children. Provision had also been made m ' regard to the income tax for an additional exemption of £25 for each child dependent on the parent. Taxation on flax lands was amended. Loans for depreciation on machinery and plant-shad been increased from 2£ to 5 per cent, thus removing . a legitimate grievance. These reforms should tend to reduce the cost of living, to some people at any rate. The public should not place too. much importance on the reduction of Customs duty as n means of reducing the cost of living. This was very largely an electioneering cry. On the question cf defence the Minister said tho Government's policy was to train men for the British, navy, and nothing else ,at the present time. Mr Massey had said he proposed to ask Parliament to supply one cruiser at a cost of from £400.000 to £500,000, but he had no doubt Mr M&ssey would not press that question this session as a. conference was to be called m London next, year. A vote of thanks and conlidence wasvjearried unanimously. BALCLUT'HA, this day. The Prime! Minister addressed a crowded meeting at Balclutha last night. He was accorded a very cordial welcome and a patient hearinr**. "Mr MasSey broke no new ground iv tlie course of "his remarks, which lasted about two hours. Ho referred to the improved conditions of matters m regard to the Land Act, this subject occupying nearly half the time he was speaking. . Other matters dealt with were finance, loans raised at Home, advances to settlers and others, the providing of workers' homes m town and country, the Public Service Board, immigration, and the necessity for an increased population. At the conclusion of his address he received a vote of thanks and confidence, which was carried with slight dissent. Thereafter he was entertained at a social.